Harbor Street (Cedar Cove #5)(65)

“Everything will be fine,” her mother assured her as Allison sat down again.

“Dad’s not going to do anything, is he?” So far, her father had been cool. He’d been the only one willing to stand up with Anson in court, and he’d helped get him a job, too.

It seemed forever before her father came back in. The instant he did, Allison jumped up and hurried over to him. “What did Anson say?”

Her mother joined Allison and slid an arm around her shoulders.

“It was man to man,” Zach said.

“Dad!” she cried in frustration.

He smiled then, and she knew he was teasing her.

“Anson wanted to give you a Valentine card,” he explained.

Allison pressed her hand to her heart. This was so incredibly sweet and romantic she could hardly believe it.

“He felt he should talk to me first. He did promise not to have any contact with you and didn’t want to go back on his word.”

“I can have it, can’t I?” She’d die, simply die, if her father said no.

Her father hesitated. “I was impressed that he’d come and ask my permission.”

“He respects you, Dad.” She knew that just from the way Anson had said her father’s name after they’d gone to court. “You told him I could have the card, didn’t you? Oh please, it would mean so much.” She hated to plead, but this was quite possibly the most important moment of her life.

Her father pulled a thick envelope from inside his jacket and held it out.

“Oh, Daddy, thank you! Thank you so much.”

“He said I could read it.”

Allison’s gaze flew to her father’s. “He didn’t?”

“Zach,” her mother said. “Don’t tease.”

Her father grinned and handed Allison the envelope. She needed every ounce of restraint not to rip it open right then and there. Instead, she took it to her room. She sat on the end of her bed and very carefully opened the envelope. The card was expensive and romantic, and the second she caught the word love, she thought she might cry.

Inside the card was a letter, consisting of four sheets of paper, folded into fourths. Before she read it, she studied the inside verse and blinked back tears at the sentiment.

“Soon,” Anson had written at the bottom of the card, “we’ll be together again.” Then he’d signed his name.

Allison devoured the letter, reading it as fast as she could. When she’d finished she went back and read it all the way through a second time.

Anson told her about his job and how hard he was working to make a good impression. Being a dishwasher wasn’t as easy as it sounded, and he struggled to keep up with the demand. He liked his boss. Seth Gunderson was a big Swedish guy who didn’t put up with any nonsense. Anson claimed he didn’t mind that, because he knew where he stood.

He also told her that if he continued to work extra hours, he could have the reimbursement monies paid by the middle of the summer. As soon as that happened, they could see each other again. She noticed he didn’t refer to any of his troubles with this other guy, Tony.

Six months, Allison reflected. It would be six very long months, but she could wait.

The last part of the letter was the best. Anson wrote how difficult it was to see her every day and not be able to talk to her. In French class, he said, he found it almost impossible to keep his promise to her father. But he’d do it because of everything her father had done for him. He told her that some nights he dreamed about her and always woke with a happy feeling inside.

She dreamed of Anson, too. She hated knowing it would be another six months before they could see each other. Anson was of legal age now and she would be soon. All of this seemed so junior high and yet, at the same time, it was the only way they could be together and not alienate her parents.

She sighed heavily as she folded the letter and slipped it back inside the card. She ran her finger over the embossed image—an old-fashioned picture of cupids and flowers. It was an expensive card bought at a specialty store.

Even when he was putting aside almost every penny he earned in order to pay restitution to the town, he’d bought her a lovely Valentine card. There’d been no need to purchase the best one available, but that was what he’d done.

Her heart was so full of love for him that she wanted to weep. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a sudden movement, a flash of darkness. She rose from her bed and hurried to the window.

Anson.

He wore his long black coat and a black knit hat that covered his ears.

Anson walked across the yard and stood on the other side of the window.

She smiled and he smiled back, her eyes looking into his.

He pressed his bare hand to the cold glass. She pressed her hand to his. Through the glass they mouthed “I love you” to each other. Seeing him, reading his card and letter—it was the best Valentine’s gift she’d ever received.

Thirty-Three

Maryellen Bowman sang a soft lullaby as she finished bathing Katie and dressed her daughter for bed. Katie stuck her feet in her footed pajamas, chattering happily, the volume of her comments rising when Jon walked into her room. He wrapped his arms around Maryellen’s waist, resting his palm against her still-flat stomach. It was a sweet gesture acknowledging the baby nestled in her womb.

“Let me read to Katie tonight,” he offered.